Long-term ECG changes in depressed elderly patients treated with nortriptyline. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled evaluation.
ECGs of 50 patients who completed a long-term nortriptyline (NT) study are presented at baseline, after 7 weeks on NT, and after 1 year. The ECGs of patients with preexisting cardiac disease were compared with non-cardiac patients. Significant ECG changes and increases in heart rate were observed by Week 7 and persisted at a mean of 55 weeks (range: 24-111) in patients who were continued on NT. No significant difference was found in long-term ECG effects in patients with preexisting cardiac disease; ECG changes reverted to baseline when placebo was substituted. Patients with known cardiac disease did not show significantly worse ECG changes on NT than non-cardiac patients.
Miller
M D
MD
Mental Health Clinical Research Center for the Study of Late-Life Mood Disorders (MHCRC/LLMD), Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Curtiss
E I
EI
Marino
L
L
Houck
P R
PR
Paradis
C F
CF
Mazumdar
S
S
Pollock
B G
BG
Foglia
J
J
Reynolds
C F
CF
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013995:Time
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D009661:Nortriptyline